Oxford United Apologizes for 'United 93' Shirt Line referencing 9/11
The club withdrew a clothing range after realizing the shirts bore the call sign of one of the planes hijacked on September 11, 2001.
Oxford United has issued an apology after releasing a clothing line featuring the name "United 93," the call sign of the aircraft hijacked on September 11, 2001. The club stated the shirts were intended to reference its founding year of 1893 but were released without a full understanding of their historical context and associations.
United Airlines Flight 93 was one of four commercial planes hijacked by 19 Al-Qaeda operatives on September 11, 2001. The aircraft crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people on board. It is widely believed the plane was headed for a target in Washington D.C., potentially the U.S. Capitol Building.
The club, founded in 1893 as Headington, plays in the third tier of English football. In a statement, Oxford United confirmed that the "Campus Clothing" range has been withdrawn and expressed sincere apologies for the error. The club acknowledged that the shirts should not have reached the point of sale and accepted full responsibility for failing to conduct adequate due diligence. They are currently reviewing their internal approval processes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.